Extension-table.



L. B. HIBBARD.

EXTENSION TABLE. AFPUCATION FILED MAYZI. 1917;

1.257351 Patented Feb. 26,1918.

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EXTENSZON TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZI. 1922.

1,257,351 9 Patented Feb.26,1918.

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iflWRENCQ c. HIEO'IPRO LAWRENCE C. HIBBARD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

Application filed May 21, 1917. Serial No. 170,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE G. HIBBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extension- Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a table and particularly pertains to an extension table.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an extension table within which means are incorporated for mechanically opening the table and automatically placing extension leaves within the opened space.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extension table which may be easily operated by one person and which does not require that the extension leaves need to be handled as they are normally mounted Within the table and beneath its top.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple automatic means for causing the table leaves to interlock when forming the top and to become separated when drawn therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide mechanically operating means for successively raising extension table leaves to the plane of the table and to permit them to be successively withdrawn therefrom by the operation of a single member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table which will open equally from each side of the center and'which is so constructed as to insure that the moving parts will not bind, or otherwise wedge, thus causing the operation of the table to be easily efiected.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for automatically filling the gap which will occur between the ends of the apron of the table as the top is extended, thereby causing the structure at all times to be sightly in appearance.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a table of simple and durable construction within which an inexpensive operating mechanism is disposed to extend it and supply its top with leaves.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the table and particularly disclosing the leaf lifting means.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan illustrating the table with. parts broken away to more clearly show the construction and correlation of the vital elements of the structure.

Fig, 3 is a view in section and elevation as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, illustratin the operating shaft and its mounting.

Fig. 4: is a view in perspective illustrating a fragmentary portion of the table and particularly disclosing in detail the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section as seen on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 illustrating the sliding connection embodied within the apron extension members.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates a central pedestal upon which a table top 11 is mounted. This pedestal is provided with radially extending legs 12, by which it is supported in an upright manner. Side braces 18 and 14: are secured to opposite sides of the pedestal and are adapted to rigidly support the outer frame members 15 and 16 forming a part of the table sub-frame 17. The main portion of the sub-frame is secured directly upon the top pedestal, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This constitutes a rectangular supporting shelf to which side rails 18 and 19 are fixed and upon which parts of sliding rails 20 and 21 are movably mounted. The fixed rails 18 and 19 are formed with grooves upon their opposite sides within which clove-tails of the sliding rails 20 and 21 are positioned. As here shown, the slide rails 20 are adapted to support the table top portion 22 to whichthey are rigidly secured. The slide rails 21 are adapted to support the tabletop portion 23. In this manner the two top portions will be slidably mounted upon the table sub-frame and may be moved throughout a horizontal plane and in relation to each other. Guide blocks 24 and 25 are secured upon the subframe and are adapted to bear against the inner faces of the sliding rails 21 to more rigidly secure them against lost motion. The outer slide rails 20 move along the side of inclined wedge members 26 and 27 which are provided for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The top portion 22 of the table is formed with an apron 28 which extends downwardly from its opposite sides, and

their ends so designed as to conceal the unsightly parts of the operating structure and sub-frame. he top portion 23 is formed with an apron which is designed to accomplish the same results.

The top portions of the table may be mechanically moved toward and away from each other by the rotation of an actuating shaft 30 which extends transversely of the table and is fitted with a squared outer end adapted to be engaged by the crank. An opening is formed through the side of the apron 28 to accommodate this shaft, as particularly shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Secured to the shaft and adapted to rotate therewita are spur-gears 31 and 32 which mesh with gear-racks 33 and 3%. These racks are secured upon the upper face of the fixed rail members 13 and 19 and, as the shaft is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a, on Fig. l, the extension top will move outwardly in the direction of the arrow -7). In order that simultaneous movement of the two top portions may be had, equalizing gears 35 and 36 are pivotally mounted upon the top of the fixed rail members 13 and 19 and in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These gears each simultaneously mesh with gear-racks 37 and 38 secured along the inner faces of the sliding rail members 20 and 21. It is evident that by movement of the extension top 22 and its rail member 20, the racks 38 will cause the gears 35 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 0-. This will cause an opposite movement of the racks 37 and will effect a movement of the two extension top portions in opposite directions at equal speeds, as indicated by the arrows -b and d.

It will be understood that under normal conditions the top portions 22 and 23 of the table are separated and as the portion 23 is shorter than the portion 22 it is supplemented by a table leaf 39 which normally fills the space between the two top members. This leaf is formed at one end with pockets 4C0 within which dowel pins ii are adapted to be positioned. Secured beneath the opposite edge of the leaf is a pair of vertical lock-pins 42 which are mounted upon resilient clips i3. These pins are adapted to seat within pockets at formed upon the under face of the table portion 23.

lVhen the table is opened, the space between the adjacent edges of the top portion 22 and the leaf 39 will be filled by one or more of the extension leaves l5 which nor mally are mounted beneath the leaf 39 and are withdrawi'i therefrom as the table is opened. Each of the extension leaves is formed with horizontal pin pockets l0 and vertical pin pockets 4.4-. These pockets are disposed adjacent the same edge of the leaf. The opposite edge of the leaf is fitted with lock pins 42 mounted upon the resilient clips 43, as particularly disclosed in Fig. 4c of the drawings. Due to this arrangement the l aves will successively become locked with the table portion 22 and interlocked with each other, as well as the table top 23. The

extension leaves are mounted upon carriage.

blocks 4:7 which have inclined lower faces adapted to bear upon and move along the inclined planes 46 of the wedge members 26 and 27. The lowermost of the leaves is secured to l blocks in a permanent manner. hastened to the end of the sliding rails 20 are supplementary rail-portions f?) which are successively drawn out. to support the table leaves as they are moved up into the horizontal plane of the table top. These auxiliary rail members are formed with central grooves along which a guide-rod 50 is positioned. This rod affords a slidable mounting for staples 51, one of which is fastened to the end of each of the auxiliary members. In this manner the first mei'nber will be drawn out to support a table leaf and when the staple of the second member reaches the end of the rod upon the first member, it will be drawn forward to support a second leaf.

In operation, the table stands, as particularly shown in Fig. l of the drawings, with the table portions and 23 having the top leaf 39 interposed between and adjacent the edges to form table top of equal dimensions each side of the pedestal center. When the table is to be extended, the shaft 30 is rotated in the direction of the arrow a; at the same time the top leaf 39 is swung upwardly in the direction indicated. by the arrow -e. This provides clearance for the extension leaves 4-5 and permits them to move upwardly as the top extends. As the table portion 22 and the table portion 23 move in opposite directions due to the engagement of the equalizing gears 35 with the racks 37 and 38, as previously described, the carriage blocks 47 will be drawn by the rail extensions 49 along the inclined faces it; of the wedges 26 and 27. These bloc s will gradually rise, their angular movement being such that when the blocks have moved horizontally the length of one of the extension leaves, one leaf will be raised into alinernent with the table top. Its lock pins 42 will then be in engagement with the pockets formed in the under side of the preceding leaf. It will be understood that the table may be extended until all of the leaves have moved into horizontal alinement with each other and have become interlocked. after which a short reverse turn of the shaft will draw them together and cause the pins if! to enterthe pockets in the last leaf. During this operation the extension rails 49 have been drawn out so that the table leaves will form a continuous surface. A reverse operation of the actuating mechanism will cause the leaves and supporting members to suecessively move to their original positions and permit the table to be closed.

It will thus be seen that the device here disclosed afiords convenient means i'or easily opening and closing an extension table, and automatically supplying leaves to the extended top.

While 1 have shown the preferred construction of my extension table as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts may be made I by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1'. An extension table comprising a pedestal, a rectangular supporting shelf fixed to the pedestal, side rails fixed to extend upwardly from the supporting shelf and having dove-tail grooves upon their opposite sides, a table top portion having slide rails provided with dove-tails fitting in the outer dove-tail grooves, a second table top having slide rails provided with dove-tails fitting in the inner dove-tail grooves so as to slidably mount the table top portions to move to and from each other upon the pedestal an actuating shaft mounted transversely oi one table top portion, spur gears fixed upon the shaft, gear racks fixed upon the upper faces of the fixed rail members and in mesh mounted to move to and from each other, a 7

leaf mounted between the two table tops, resilient clips secured to the leaf and extending under the edge of one of the table tops, pins extending upwardly from the free ends of the clips and adapted to seat in pockets formed on the under face of the table top, a plurality of leaves mounted one upon the other below the first leaf and each provided with clips and pins extending from one edge and pockets at the other edge, inclined planes fixed to the table frame, and inclined carriage blocks movably mounted upon said inclined planes; the lower one or said extension leaves being secured to said blocks; so that as the table tops are pulled apart the leaves will successively become locked with one table top and interlocked with each other and assume their positions in the table top.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LAWRENCE G. HIBBARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

